Borrowing Materials

APU students, faculty, staff, and the extended community may borrow books, media, and other items available in the university libraries. Additionally, APU faculty members may place materials on course reserve materials for easy access by students. For borrowing privilege information for Alumni and Community Members, please review our additional patron information.

To checkout materials from the APU Library Catalog, patrons must present a current APU ID or completed “APU Library Patron Registration” form with a valid photo ID. Patrons may also request materials available through other academic and public libraries for delivery to the APU Libraries for checkout.

To read details on borrowing privileges and responsibilities, procedures, returning and renewing borrowed items, requesting a hold, and fees, see below.

For more information, contact Cheryl Chesler, access services manager, at (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3277, or cachesler@apu.edu.

Borrowing Privileges

What are my privileges as a patron of the APU Libraries?

For details, refer to the linked table of patron privileges.

What is my responsibility as a borrower of APU library materials?

It is the borrower’s responsibility to:

  • know when material is due to be returned.
  • return or renew material on or before the due date.
  • exercise care in handling all library materials.

Library borrowing privileges may not be transferred to another person, although faculty members may have their teaching assistants linked to their library records for the purpose of conducting research or preparing for classes. The library reserves the right to require a photo ID at any time. Borrowers who abuse library policies or disrupt library service may have their library privileges revoked.

It is the borrower’s responsibility to notify the library immediately of any change of address or phone number. The library uses the university’s apu.edu email accounts for its primary communication resource—for notification of available materials, overdue notices, and late fees. It is the borrower’s responsibility to forward mail from these accounts to commercial email accounts if they are used. Lack of mail delivery does not excuse the borrower from responding to any notices. Mail returned to the library, or email that “bounces” back to the library’s automated notice system, due to failure of a borrower to provide timely and adequate mail or email addresses may result in the suspension of borrowing privileges until the issue is resolved.

The library will not release personal borrowing information about any library user to any other individual or organization unless required to do so by law or by university policy.

Checking Out Materials

How do I borrow library materials?

Current students, faculty, or staff are automatically entered into the Library database. If the patron is not in the database, an “APU Library Patron Registration” form, available at the circulation desk, must be completed and presented with a photo ID and proof of APU status.

If you are a guest or alumni, please visit the Library Patrons page for more information on borrowing material from the University Libraries.

How do I return or renew library materials?

Library materials must be returned or renewed on or before the due date. Book drops are located at the entrance to each library. In addition, a return depository is located at the sidewalk leading up to the Darling Library. Materials may be renewed at the Circulation Desk at the Stamps, Marshburn, or Darling libraries in person, by phone, or online through your library account online. Regional Campus borrowers will find additional information on returning and renewing materials below. Overdue materials and materials with holds cannot be renewed.

To renew by phone, please call:

  • Darling Circulation
    (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5060
  • Marshburn Circulation
    (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3847
  • Stamps Circulation
    (626) 815-6000, Ext. 5613

The item I need is checked out. How can I get the item?

An item requested by another borrower or needed by the library may have a hold request placed on it at any of the above Circulation desks. Items may be recalled for Reserve use at any time and for other patron use after three weeks. Items with holds on them may not be renewed. When the requested item becomes available, it will be placed on the hold shelf and the requester notified to pick up the item within 10 days. If there are multiple requests for a single item, they will be honored in the order received.

Other alternatives for obtaining a checked-out item is to see if it is available through through Interlibrary Loan.

Overdue or Lost Items

What happens if an item is overdue or lost?

Materials will be billed for replacement and processing fees assessed if materials are excessively overdue. Return of the material will cancel the replacement fee, but the accrued overdue fine must be paid, if applicable.

Lost materials must be reported immediately to the library. The minimum replacement cost for an APU owned item is $95 plus a $20 processing fee. The library will adjust the replacement bill upward if these figures do not cover the cost of the item. Borrowers are responsible for replacing or paying for the repair of materials damaged while out on loan and no longer usable. A borrower may replace a lost or damaged item with a duplicate copy acceptable to the library. The library reserves the right to determine if the duplicate is acceptable. After supplying the replacement copy, the borrower is still responsible for all processing fees.

Replacement bills and processing fees can be paid by using the payment link in your replacement bill notice or by doing directly to the library bill payment form. Outstanding debts will result in the suspension of all library privileges until the debt is resolved. Students may not transfer library fees to their university accounts.

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